What it's like sleeping in a hammock - 100th post

I went from my back always being in pain to almost no pain at all.  I went from it being too hot to even sleep to so cool that i sometimes actually needed a blanket to keep warm.  See, we're not used to sleeping without something that reflects/conserves heat beneath us.  I went from sleeping with three pillows (and feeling like i needed more) to sleeping with only one pillow, and sometimes no pillow at all.

What Kinds of Hammocks are There?
Contrary to what most Americans probably believe, a hammock isn't really supposed to have a piece of wood at either end holding it open.  In fact, there are some who would even deny that such a contraption is, in fact, a hammock.  I will call that an American Hammock.  The hammock that most of the world uses is called a Mayan (or Mexican) Hammock.  These hammocks are longer and come in a variety of widths.  The next kind of hammock is the Brazilian.  These are Mayan hammocks with lace or fringe hanging from the side edges so they're pretty.  Lastly, there is the camping hammock.  This is a shorter Mayan Hammock probably made out of ripstop nylon.  Some have a tent or mosquito netting sewn to the hammock.

Hammocks can be made out or rope, fabric, or string.  My hammock is string, and if you snag it the string will probably break.  I think that my hammock has suffered three breaks in the past six months.  These can be repaired with a Fisherman's Knot...which appears to be the same thing that was used whenever it was woven to change colors/skeins, etc.

How to Lay in a Hammock
Well there's two ways to get in.  You can sit down in the middle, then turn lifting your feet.  Or, you can straddle the hammock, then sit down, then pull your legs in.  I prefer the second method.  While you're in the hammock you don't want to be laying perfectly centered with your head and feet pointing towards the upright portion of the frame.  You can lay perpendicular to this line, but that also isn't the way one is meant to lay in a Mayan hammock.

The right way to lay in a hammock is at a diagonal.  Your head and feet do not have to be higher than your body.  I find that i usually a sort of Peter Pan position to hold the hammock open a certain way since i really have a hammock meant for two or more people to use at the same time.  But if i get arranged the right way i will be laying flat in whatever position i find to be most comfortable.  There are no pressure points, only support.

How to get out?  They say to sit up and do the reverse of whatever way you got in.  I have managed this a couple of times...but my hammock is huge and i am short.  Because i have to hang it high enough to clear the bottom of my frame, it's really too high off the ground for me to comfortably get out of using those methods.  It's easier for me to roll out usually, particularly because i'm not particularly coherent when i first wake up.  I have no idea what kind of untoward wear and tear this is causing my setup, however.

Bedding
In the summer, my system became putting a bottom sheet (corner curled around my feet and head) below me by wrapping myself up in it.  Once you're in the hammock, you don't have to keep it wrapped around you, you can just lay with the air above you or put a top sheet/light blanket on top.  In the winter...at first i needed to have a comforter below me or i'd be freezing.  I meant to try a sleeping mat (like for camping) but never got around to it.  Then for a while i was using a sleeping bag liner, sometimes with a light blanket below, a comforter on top.  Most of the time i forego the liner now and only have the comforter on top, sometimes that light blanket again.  I anticipate that in the summer i might not even need a sheet below me, maybe just above.

But I Can't Sleep on My Back!
You don't have to sleep on your back when you're in a hammock.  I usually sleep partially on my side, partially on my back, at least, that's how it feels once i get settled.  You can sleep on your stomach, but it's harder to get comfortable.  Ditto to sleeping on your side, though somehow this usually manages to make my lower shoulder hurt.  So the cradled 3/4 position is usually where i end up, even if i start in another position.  It's just so comfy.

the hammock project...part 3

Sorry for the delay in posting this!

Warning...image and clutter intense.